The 10 greatest architectural feats

Michel colin 2008

We run the world to admire. These structures are beautiful, yes, but they are also masterpieces of intelligence.

1 Great Pyramid of Cheops, Giza ( Egypt )

The best is the enemy of the good, they say, but apparently nobody informed the Pharaoh Cheops' s Egypt when, in 2750 BC. AD, he built his pyramid. More than two million limestone blocks, each weighing over a ton have been raised to create this titan of 146.6 m in height, which stood for 4,000 years the highest building in the world. And the size is nothing compared to the complexity of the whole: each side is in derogation of a few centimeters to 230 m rigor and architectural subtleties abound. Its interior conduits link to large constellations and the pyramid is aligned to true north. And we almost forgot: the pyramid is sublime.

Each day, two of the three pyramids of Giza are generally open.

2 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul ( Turkey )

No, nothing to do with holy named Sophie: This beautifully constructed based in Istanbul was built in honor of divine wisdom ("Hagia Sophia" sophos meaning wisdom in Greek). Built on the orders of Emperor Justinian the Byzantine in 537, the basilica has its sublime beauty knowledge of innovative architects who sat dome, which seems to float weightlessly 30m on pendants and hidden pillars. Converted into a mosque after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453, the Hagia Sophia is now a secular building. Yet when the sun hits the golden mosaics inside its huge, it feels good something resembling spirituality.

Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Sauvageone

3 Indian Railways ( India )

The numbers speak for themselves: the first train left Bombay in 1853 to travel the 33 km that separated him from Thane; Today, some 18 million passengers traveling on more than 63,000 km of railways. But with the numbers, it also remains on the surface because it is in the details that shine feats of civil engineering. Thus, in 1874, Major Stanton built a stretch of 88 km in just 65 days (first surveying the commissioning of locomotives!). Indian railways has seen many feats of this kind, allowing you now to travel in comfortable cabins or join stations open Himalayas on small mountain trains.

Passes of IndRail allow pre-book seats and berths.

4 Great Wall (China)

"The strength of a wall depends on the courage of those who defend it" looked like Genghis Khan. True, but it's even better if the wall in question is really awesome. The first wall of China was built by the Qin dynasty in the third century, which forced hundreds of thousands of workers to move 180 million cubic meters of rock and earth. Later, the Ming Dynasty (XIV-XVII centuries) there was added 60 million cubic meters of stone and brick. In all, the various parts of the wall have made millions of victims and extend some 6,500 km away. The Great Wall is visible from space, but it is no less prodigious.

Meet at Simatai or Jinshanling for less sightseeing than the nearest Beijing sections.

Grane Wall, China. Francis Deport

5 Millau Viaduct (France)

Concrete: 206,000 tons; steel deck: 36 000 tonnes. The figures, as the building are staggering, and the viaduct designed by Norman Foster is an example of work that is both practical and prosaic. Challenged to build a viaduct over the Tarn Valley, the engineers achieved a feat and beat countless records: 2 460 m long viaduct has the highest piles of the world (343 m) and the highest deck road. But if drivers (and visitors) stop speechless, it's because of the lightness and delicacy that emerge from this titan.

The entrance to the viaduct toll is € 5.02, but is free to the Area Info.

Millau Viaduct, France.  Jean-Claude Guyot

6 Lalibela ( Ethiopia )

There has obviously been in the past a real hobby buildings carved into the rock: think Egyptians in Abu Simbel, the Jordanians in Petra, Indians in Ellora. But the site of Lalibela in Ethiopia probably holds the prize, especially because its rock churches are still active. For the holiday Timkat (Epiphany, January 19), you will see crowds of pilgrims, hear songs, humerez incense and admire tabots (holy books). Thousands of workers (some divine, says the legend) have worked from the twelfth century to dig the 11 churches of Lalibela in the ground, authentic wonders sculptures and delicate ornaments. A feast for the eyes. The churches of Lalibela are open every day.

Apply flea powder on your socks, because fleas thrive on carpets.

7 Falkirk Wheel (Scotland)

The boats float very well, but have trouble down the hills. And to raise them, do not talk. Imagine that you are a boat, you are in Scotland , and want to spend the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal, 35 m above. You must be a series of locks succeeding over 1.5 km, a gigantic steel gadget rotating two huge boxes filled with water. Dream come true! Each well of the Falkirk Wheel lets you get on and off the boats. It took 1,200 tons of steel, more than 15,000 bolts and a very high crane to assemble this boat lift in 2001, Unique.

Boat trips in an hour, with up and down the Falkirk Wheel, are offered daily (adult £ 7.85). Information www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk .

8 Tower in Dubai ( United Arab Emirates )

Sometimes, let's face it, size is everything: the tallest tower in the world is not just huge, it's gigantic. Emblematic of a megalomania that the Gulf states seem customary (large artificial islands in the shape of palm trees, the first seven stars on the planet, etc. hotel), the Burj Dubai does not just go timidly before the last record, it s crushes soundly. The previous champion, the Taipei 101 is a dwarf of 509 m compared to Dubai's tower, which surpasses over 300 m. Attention to altitude: at the top, the temperature is below 6 ° C below that recorded.

For a closer look, the better off will book a suite at the Armani Hotel, which will occupy the first 37 floors of the tower of Dubai .

Burj Dubai, UAE. Michele Solmi

9 Yaxchilan, Yucatán (Mexico)

With their golf ball games, pyramids and carved murals, Mayan sites in Mexico never fail to fascinate, and Yaxchilan even perhaps perched in a spectacular setting above the jungle along a bend of the River Usumacinta. Wealthy during its golden age (680-800), gives Yaxchilan see facades and ridge crests extraordinary sculptures, but the most interesting construction has disappeared: a suspension bridge with a central span of 63 m, was for seven of the world's longest ever. The hypothesis of the existence of this bridge was brought forward to mid-1990s through archaeological research and computer modeling. Although it is still contested, it adds to the interest of one of the most exciting sights of the Americas.

Yaxchilan is not accessible by road or by rail: rent a motorboat to reach in 45 minutes from Frontera Corozal.

10 Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao ( northern Spain )

Ship? Flower? Fish? Frank Gehry has made a work here as sparkling unique. We can talk about deconstruction or just like King Juan Carlos, the "best building of the twentieth century", one thing is certain: the Guggenheim Bilbao has not finished astonishing. Billowing, organic lines required software design in 3-D for 60 tons of titanium panels half a millimeter thick and reinforced glass can marry the flowing forms of limestone. Since opening in 1997, the museum has hosted many exciting exhibits, including Warhol, Rothko and Koons, but it is the building that Bilbao has its rebirth.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao ( www.guggenheim-bilbao.es ) is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the year, and Monday in July and August.

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Ahmed Khalidi

My name is Ahmed, I'm 23 and I'm passionate about travel. I try to travel regularly while continuing my study. I created this blog to share my travels, my tips and my travel tips. Feel free to comment on my articles or contact me if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer you. Follow and join us in Fb : fb.com/traver24trip in Google+ : +AhmedKhalidi1 .

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